Antibiotic 18.631 rp

ABSTRACT

The new acidic antibiotic 18.631 R.P. is prepared by aerobically cultivating Streptomyces hygroscopicus DS 9.751 (NRRL 3418), Streptomyces albocinerescens DS 21,647 (NRRL 3419) or Streptomyces roseochromogenes, var. oscitans DS 12.976 (NRRL 3504) on an aqueous nutrient medium containing assimilable sources of carbon, nitrogen and inorganic substances. The antibiotic is particularly effective against gram-positive microorganisms.

United States Patent [191 Mancy et al.

[ ANTIBIOTIC 18.631 RP [75] Inventors: Denise Ma'ncy, Charenton; Leon Ninet; Jean Preud Homme, both of Paris, all of France [73] Assignee: Rhone-Poulenc S.A., Paris, France [22] Filed: Oct. 14, 1971 [21] Appl. No.: 189,259

Related US. Application Data [62] Division of Ser. No. 798,980, Feb. 13, 1969, Pat. No.

52 us. or 195/80 R 51 rm. Cl c1211 1/00 58 Field of Search 195/80 [56] 1 References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS I 3,682,866 8/1972 Mancy et al. 195/80 R Wave number m cm" Opt/ca] Denali T7? k 01 be h- Wavelength In microns 51 Feb. 19, 1974 Primary Examiner-A. Louis Monacell Assistant Examiner-Robert J. Warden Attorney, Agent, or FirmStevens l?a vis, Miller &

Mosh'er [5 7] ABSTRACT fi'hew acidic antibiotic 18.631 R1. is prefaared by aerobically cultivating Streptomyces hygroscopicus DS 9.751 (NRRL 3418), Streptomyces albocinerescens DS 21.647 (NRRL 3419) or Streptomyces roseochromogenes, var. oscitans D S 12.976 (NRRL 551E765 an aqueous hTfir'iiiimdium containing assimilable sources of carbon, nitrogen and inorganic substances. The antibiotic is particularly effective against grampositive microorganisms.

11 Claims, 2 Drawing Figures ISCO 1000 I 500 P E T FEB] 9 I974 SHEEI 1 OF 2 Wave numbers in crn- 4 P O .l 2 3 55 .880 mm 0 O 0 0000 1 Wavelength in mm FIG.

ANTIBIOTIC 18.631 RP This is a division of application Ser. No. 798,980 filed Feb. 13, 1969, now U.S. Pat. No. 3,682,886.

This invention relates to a new antibiotic, hereinafter designated by the number 18,631 R.P., to a process for its preparation and pharmaceutical compositions containing it.

The new antibiotic is of very particular interest because of its high antibacterial activity against grampositive microorganisms and significant activity against certain gram-negative microorganisms. It can be obtained from artificial culture media containing microorganisms identified more completely hereinafter, belonging to the genus Streptomyces and hereinafter designated respectively by the names Streptomyces hygro: scopicus DS 9,751 (NRRL 3418), Streptomyces albocinerescens DS 21,647 (NRRL 3419) and Streptomyces roseochromogenes DS 12,976, var. oscitans (NRRL 3504). Specimens of these three microorganisms have been deposited with the United States Department of Agriculture, Northern Regional Research Laboratory, at Peoria, Illinois, United States of America, where they have been given the numbers NRRL 3418, NRRL 3419 and NRRL 3504 as indicated above; samples of the microorganisms may be obtained from the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Argicultural Research Service, Fermentation Laboratory, Peoria, Illinois, U.S.A.

Antibiotic 18,631 RF. is in the form of a white microcrystalline powder and has the following physicochemical properties:

Melting point: 206 C.

Solubility: It is easily soluble in dimethylsulphoxide, soluble in dilute strong bases, methanol, ethanol, acetone, dioxan, chloroform, dimethylformamide and ethyl acetate, sparingly soluble or insoluble in water, aqueous solutions of sodium bicarbonate, dilute strong acids, carbon tetrachloride, acetonitrile and hexane. Structural formula:

(calculated Optical Rotation:

[ 1 68 i1.5 1, ethanol) 1 1438 199 2.s (c 1, ethanol) 1m 80 1 2 (0 0.6, acetone) l-m 224 i 2.5 (c 0.6, acetone) Ultra-violet spectrum (determined on a chloroform 65 1 Borenfreund (after deammation) reactions,

lution containing 10 mg./l.): absorption maximum at 275 nm (Emu 444) shoulder at 307 nm Em. 201

I for om OH H CH: NHoo cm- H absorption maximum at 337 nm (E X 434) (nm nanometre) This spectrum is shown in FIG. 1 of the accompanying drawings in which the abscissae give the wave lengths expressed in nanometres (lower scale) and the wave numbers in cm (upper scale), and the ordinates give the optical densities.

Infra-red spectrum (deterrnined on tablets of a mixture with K Br).

This spectrum is shown in FIG. 2 in which the abscissae give the wave lengths expressed in microns (lower scale) and the wave numbers in cm (upper scale), and the ordinate give the absorptions as optical densities.

The principal infra-red absorption bands (in cm of 18,361 R1. are given in Table I which follows:

where vs= very strong; s= strong; m medium; w weak; sh shoulder. Acid-base reaction:

18,631 RF. is a weak acid having a neutralisation e quivalent, measured by potentiometric titration of 5 solution in a mixture of methanol and water (25-10 by volume) with decinormal sodium hydroxide solution, of 695. It forms salts, e.g., alkali metal salts. Colour reactions:

18,631 R.P. gives the following reactions: strongly positive in the Molisch, Folin-Denis, permanganate-sulphuric acid (in the cold), Fehling, indole-sulphuric acid, cysteine, carbazole, Dische (with phloroglucinol), Elson-Morgan and Discheweakly positive in the Pauly, Adamkiewicz, Tollens and Seliwanoff-Roe reactions, and

negative in the Millon, ninhydrin, biuret, xanthoproteic, diazotisation, Ehrlich-Salkowsky, ferric chloride, Morner, Zimmermann-Bitto, Pechmann, Tauber, Bial, Wheeler-Tollens, ferric maltol, Sakaguchi and Nessler reactions.

Dialysis: T V 18,631 R.P. dialyses through a regenerated cellulose membrane (Cellophane type).

Chromatographic migrations (developed by bioautography on plates of nutrient agar inoculated with Staphylococcus albus): v I

The migrations observed on various supports and under the influence of different solvents are indicated in mycin, spiramycin, or pristinamycin, but on the other 1 hand shows considerable cross resistance with novobiocin.

Table III below gives the concentrations of 18,631

' R.P. which are required to ensure bacteriostasis of certainmicroorganisms. They were determined by one of the dilution methods usually employed for this purpose: for each microorganism the minimum concentration of antibiotic, which under specified conditions inhibits all visible development of the microorganism in an appropriate nutrient broth, was determined. These minimum bacteriostatic concentrations of the antibiotic are expressed in micrograms of substan c e per cc. of test me- Table II. 'dium in the following Table.

" TABLE m V Bacterial Organisms Tested Minimum bactcrostatic concentrations in ug/cc.

Staphylococcus aureus, 209 P strain ATCC 6538 P 0.005 Staphylococcus aureus, Smith strain 0.003 Sarcina lutea ATCC 9341 0.02 streptococcus'faecalis ATCC 9790 0.04 Streptococcus vin'dans (lnstitut Pasteur) 3 Streptococcus pyogenes hemolyticus (Dig 7 strain,

lnstitut Pasteur) 0.05 Diplc0ccus pneumoniae (Til strain, lnstitut Pasteur) 0.03 Neissen'a catarrhalis (A 152 lnstitut Pasteur) 0.005 Neisseria Meningitidis (5813 lnstitut Pasteur) 0.05 Neisseria gonorrhaeae (A 50 lnstitut Pasteur) 0.4 Luctobact'llus casei ATCC 7469 l Bacillus subtilis ATCC 6633 0.6 Bacillus cereus ATCC 6630 0.5 Mycobacterium species ATCC 607 10 Escherichia cnli ATCC 9637 10 Proteus vulgaris l3 Klebsiella pneumoniae ATCC 10,031 I l Pseudomonus aeruginosa (Bass strain lnstitut Pasteur) 4 Brucella bronchiseptica (CN 387 Wcllcom Institute) 0.3 Brucella abartus how's B 19 (52,135-lnstitut Pasteur) 0.] Pasteurella m'ultocida (A 125 lnstitut Pasteur) 7 Reiter's treponaema 12 T A TBLE II a V '7 Thafitibacterial activity of1,631 RPhas been confirmed in vivo with laboratory animals experimentally Support System Rf infected with microorganisms such as streptococci, (WmWSiim by mum) pneumococci and staphylococci. It proved particularly Arches 302 now Butane, saturated with WM 095 effective when administered orally and subcutaneously buffered paper to mice.- It also possesses .a very good preventive activga g a-31217 (g l 8-32 0 ity towards Staphylococcal infections of mice when ad- Butandl-acctic acid-water ministered orally and subcutaneously. (4-1-5 upper phase) 1.00 T i i Eth lacctate-c clohexane (m saturated with water 050 The toxicity of 18,631 RP has been studied princi- Arches 302 P p pally in mice and determined orally and subcutaneg figgigi fi fi a 5 5 ously. In both methods of administration 18,631 RP has solution, pH 7, Ml3 Chloroform 0.50 proved non-toxic at a dose of 1 g/kg. The percent Alumina (thin layer) Methanol-water (95-5) 0.27 Kicselgfl G (silica Butanobamic acidwaler L00 lethal dose, or LD also determined orally and subcu gel), thin layer (4l-5 upper phase) taneously was:

Carbon tetrachloridc-ethanol- 0.50

acetic acid (90-66) Bacteriostatic activity of 18,631 R.P. in vitro 18,631 R.P. has a high antibiotic activity towards a certain number of bacteria of which the most sensitive are to be found amongst those accepting the Gram stain, its activity is particularly high against staphylococci. It shows a more restricted activity against Gramnegative bacteria, although. it still exerts a considerable activity, in particular, towards certain Neisseria.

belong to the genus Streptomyces and are designated by the 'names Streptomyces hygroscopicus DS 9,751

I (NRRL 3418), Streptomyces albocinerescens DS 21,647

(NRRL 3419) and Streptomyces roseachromogenes DS 12,976, var. oscitans (NRRL 3504). These organisms were isolated from samples of soil coming respectively from:

' South Africa in the case of Streptomyces hygroscopicus France in the case of Streptomyces albocinerescens DS 21,647

and India in the case of Streptomyces roseochromogenes, var. oscitans.

These organisms were isolated by the following method: A small quantity of soil was suspended in steril distilled water and thesuspension diluted to different concentrations; a small volume of each dilution was spread over the surface of Petri dishes containing a nutrient agar medium. AFter incubation for several days at 26 C, the colonies of microorganisms tobe isolated for study were pricked out and transplanted onto nutrient agar slopes so as to obtain more abundant cultures.

The strain DS 9751 belongs to the species Streptamyces hygroscopicus of which the essential characteristics have been defined by H.D. Tresner and EJ. Backus (Applied Microbiology, 4, 243-250, 1956) and by S.A. Waksman (The Actinomycetes,-II, The Williams and Wilkins Company, Baltimore, 1961, p.230-231). For this reason it has been named Streptomyces hygroscopicus, strain DS 9751.

In fact, S. hygroscopicus DS 9751 shows the following three characteristics which correspond to the three characteristics by which H.D. Tresner and EJ. Backus as well as S.A. Waksman define the species S. hygroscopicus: (a) its sporiferous filaments generally terminate in tight spirals having a coil of several turns; these spiral sporiferous filaments are most frequently inserted along a central filament, forming more or less elongated clusters; (b) its aerial sporulated mycelium, when it has reached a good stage of development, shows a deep grey colour corresponding to that shown by the species S. hygroscopicus, and (c) on certain culture media which permit good sporulation the appearance on aging of black glossy zones of a moist appearance in the sporulated surfaces, these zones being characteristic of the species S. hygroscopicus. In the case of S. hygroscopicus DS 9,751 the transformation of the deep grey sporiferous mat into a black coating only takes place rather slowly and discreetly, being generally restricted to small points distributed over the sporulated surface rather than spreading over the entire sporiferous mat. It is nevertheless obvious and can be observed in particular on Pridham yeast extract agar, Carvajal oat agar, ovalbumin agar and glucoseasparagine agar.

The morphological characteristics shown by cultures of S. hygroscopicus DS 9,751 are on the whole very similar to those of the strain S. hygroscopicus described in The Actinomycetes (S.A. Waksman, The Williams and Wilkins Company, Baltimore, 1961, p.230-23l), the most appreciable differences compared with the characteristics described consisting in that S. hygroscopicus DS 9,751 does not cause milk to turn acid but on the contrary causes a very slight change towards alkalinity (the initial pH of 6.3 changing to 7.0 within a month), and secondly that it only produces a very weak brownish soluble pigment on Czapek Sucrose agar. The strain S. hygroscopicus described in The Actinomycetes on the other hand causes very slight acidification of milk (the pH reaching 6.0) and produces a golden-yellow to light orange soluble pigment on sucrose-nitrate-agar." These very slight differences obviously do not allow the strain DS 9,751 to be regarded as a different species from the species S. hygroscopicus, of which in other respects it shows the principal characteristics used to define it. It should also be noted that the spores of S. hygroscopicus DS 9,751 are cylindrical to isodiametric cells with truncated ends, whilst those of the strain S. hygroscopicus described in The Actinomycetes are oval, but H.D. Tresner and EJ. Backus consider that the shape of the spores is variable in the species S. hygroscopicus where these various shapes are encountered.

S. hygroscopicus DS 9751 does not produce a melanine pigment on organic media. On all its culture media it forms a vegetative mycelium ranging from pale yellowish to yellow or yellowish-brown, and the soluble pigments which it elaborates are in yellow to yellowishbrown shades.

S. hygroscopicus DS 9,751 forms sporiferous filaments which generally end in tight spirals containing one to five turns in most cases, though very occasionally there are observed spirals forming a larger number of turns or also some sporiferous filaments which are simply curved at their end section without forming a complete turn, or also sometimes spirals which are more or less loose and unrolled. The sporiferous structure most frequently has a cluster structure, with the spiral sporiferous filaments being inserted along a principal filament which in somecases can be rather long. The spores have a short cylindrical shape which is more or less regular and measure 0.6 to 0.9 [L/(l to 1.2 p.. The spiral sporiferous filaments are very slow to fragment so as to liberate the spores and furthermore frequently only fragment partially, thus liberating chains of several spores which retain the shape of a more or less complete ring. Microscopic examinations have shown an identical organisation of the sporiferous structure on Bennett agar, Pridham oat and tomato agar and glucose-asparagine agar.

The culture characteristics and biochemical properties of S. hygroscopicus DS 9,751 are recorded in Table [V which follows. They are those of cultures which have reached a good stage of development, and have been aged for about 3 to 4 weeks at 26 C. These char acteristics were observed on nutrient agars and broths usually employed to determine the morphological characteristics of strains of streptomyces, the cultures on agar media being carried out on agar slopes. A certain number of the culture media employed were prepared in accordance with the formulae indicated in The Actinomycetes (S.A. Waksman, p.193-197, Chronica Botanica Company, Waltham, Mass. U.S.A. 1950); in this case they are indicated by the letter W followed by the number which they are given in The Actinomycetes. The references or compositions of the other culture media are as follows:

Ref.A KL. Jones Journal of Bacteriology, 57,

142 (1949) Ref.B Formula W-23 with the addition of 2 percent of agar Ref.C Hickey and Tresners Agar T.G. Pridham et al Antibiotics Annual, 1956-1957, p.950

Ref.D. Yeast Extract Agar T.G. Pridham et al Antibiotics Annual, 1956-1957, p.950

Ref.E Tomato Paste Oatmeal Agar" T.G. Pridham et a] Antibiotics Annual, 1956l957,

p.950 Ref.F. W.E. Grundy et al Antibiotics and TABLE IV Culture Degree of Vegetative mycelium or Aerial structure (comprising Soluble Observations. and biochemical properties Medium development underside of the culture the combination of the aerial pigment mycelium and the sporulation) Bennett good thick and wrinkled, Whitish to light grey and deep Light Sporiferous structure in clusters.

agar (Ref.

Emerson good agar (Ref.

greyish yellow. Underside yellow-brown.

thick and wrinkled,

v greyish yellow.

Underside yellow-brown.

grey. Very moderately developed.

Greyish-white. Poorly developed.

yellow-brown Orange-Brown Hickey good thick and wrinkled, Whitish to greyish-whitc. Very Extremely and light yellow-brown. poorly developed weak Tresncr Underside light brownish yellow-brown.

Sporiferous filaments ending in tight spirals of l to 5 turns.

Pridham yeast extract agar (Ref.

very good very good very good Underside yellow-brown Underside deep yellow-brown Underside deep chestnut.

Very light greyish to medium grey and deep grey with some very small black spots characteristic of the species Hygroseopicus. Rather well developed.

Yellow-brown Whitish to light grey a nddeep grey. Well developed.

Rather deep yellow-brown Brown Sporiferous structure in clusters. Sporiferous filaments ending in tight spirals of l to 5 turns.

Glucosegood peptone agar w Nutrient agar Tyrosine agar (Ret".G)

very I'IKEEI'BIC moderate Underside light yellow-brown.

Witish; traces.

Whitish; traces W hitish. Moderately developed.

Light greyish yellow-brown Nil V5; 'wzak yellowish Krainsky calcium malate agar (Refl) medium moderate min agar (W-l 2) amass: 'gaoa Underside orange-brown.

Underside light brownish yellow Greyish-white; traces.

Whitish to light greyish. moderately developed.

Violet-brown Formation of Melanine: negative (readings No blackening taken according to the recommendations of of the medium the author).

Nil Solirbili sation of the malate: positive Nd solutiilisation EFiiiEidiiie I Underside yellow Whitish to light grey and deep grey with some very small black spots characteristic of the species "Hygroscopicus". Moderately developed.

Light yellow Underside yellow? Very light greyish to medium Light Spofiierous structure in clusters.

asparagrey and black-grey. wi h yellow-brown Sproiferous filaments ending in tight ginc agar some black zones spirals of I to 5 turns.

(W-2) characteristic of the species l-lygroscopicus". Rather well developed.

Glycegood i Underside light Whitish to grey. Moderately Very light rincyellow-brown. developed. yellow-brown asparagine agar smell moderate Underside light yellow. Whitish with some light grey weak Hydrolysis of the starch: positive.

nitrate spots. Modcrately'developed. brownish agar yellow Pridham fairly good Underside Greyish-white to light grey and weak Hydrolysis of the starch: positive. starch yellow-brown. deep grey. Moderately yellow-brown agar developed.

( Ref .J

Czapek fairly good Underside light Whitish to light grey. very weak synthetic brownish yellow. Moderately developed. brownish agar with sucrose I TABLE IV -Continued Chem., 2', 401 1952') Ref.G. Peptone 0.5 percent meat extract 0.3

percent tyrosine 0.5 percent agar 2 percent Ref.L corresponds to formula W-l with a 30 g. of

sucrose replaced by 15 g. of glycerine Ref.M Plain Gelatin prepared in accordance with the instructions of Manualof Methods for Pure Culture Study of Bacteria" of the Society of American Bacteriologists, Geneva, N.Y., 11 -18 Ref.N Synthetic Dimmick medium (nonagar) Manual of Methods for Pure Culture Study of Bacteria of the Society of American Bac- Culture Degree of Vegetative mycelium or Aerial structure (comprising Soluble Observations, and biochemical properties Medium development underside of the culture the combination of the aerial pigment mycelium and the sporulation) Czapck good Underside light whitish. Moderately Weak synthetic yellow-brown developed. yellow-brown agar with glucose (Ref.K)

Czapek moderate Underside Whitish. Moderately Nil synthetic yellow-brown. developed. agar with glycerine (Ref.l.)

Culture fairly good Fairly well developed. whitish. Poorly developed. Nil on potato Weak greyiith beige to (W-27) very light'browninh. l2% pure medium Whitish culture with a nil Nil Liquefaction of the gclatinc: fairly gout]. gelatinc tendency to sediment in (Ref.M) the liquified gelatine Dimmick medium whitish colonies on the Greyish whitc. Very poorly Nil Nitrite reaction: positive. glucosesurface. developed. nitrate broth (Ref. N) Ciapek moderate Flo c cu lent culture, nil Nil Nitrite reaction: negative. broth whitish sedimentation. with SUCYOSO Czapek moderate Greyish colonies oh the Greyish, developed on the Nil Utilisation of the cellulose: positive. broth surface. colonies which are on the with surface and on'the paper cellulose sticking out of the broth. (Ref.O) Skimmed ,665?" Well developed ring, Nil or very slight "3665; Total peptonisation without coagulation-pH milk light brownish. whitish. changing from 6.3 to 7.0 in one month. (Ref.P) a) 25C. I b) 37C. poor Badly developed ring, Greyish white; traces Total peptonisation without coagulation-pH orange-brown. changing from 6.3 to 7.0 in one month. Tresner moderate mdersideye llow. Whitisifi traces Nil Production of H 8: negative.

and Danga agar for investigating the production of H,S (Ref. 0)

teriologists, Geneva, N.Y., 11 -19 Ref.O corresponds to the formula W-l8 with the sucrose omitted and replaced by small strips of filter paper partially immersed in the liquid Ref.P Skimmed milk as a commercially available powder, reconstituted in accordance ith the manufacturers instructions lieilQ Medium indicated for investigation of the production of H 8 by: H.D. Tresner and F. Danga Journal of Bacteriology, 76, 329-244 (1958).

Stain DS 21,647 corresponds to an original species which has been given the name Streptomyces albocinerescens DS 21,647 because of the appearance of its aerial mycelium which, whilst initially of a white colour, turns light grey in the sporulated zones when the sporulation appears; the sporulation is generally poor and weak and frequently only forms very slowly; on a certain number of media it even'does not appear or only occurs very weakly, with the aerial mycelium then remaining whitish or turning to extremely light greyish. S. albocinerescens DS 21,647 does not produce a melanine pigment on organic media. on all its culture media it forms a vegetative mycelium ranging from yellow to brown-yellow or yellow-brown and on the majority elaborates a soluble pigment in a shade ranging from yellow to yellow-brown.

S. albocinerescens DS 21 ,647 forms long straight or slightly flexuous sporophores which are generally unbranched or occasionally shown one or two branches. Its spores are oval or cylindrical with rounded ends and measure 0.5 to 0.7 [L/l to 1.2 IL. Microscopic examinations have shown an identical organisation of the sporiferous structure on Pridham starch agar and on Hickey and Tresner agar.

Amongst the species which are described either in Bergeys Manual of Determinative Bacteriology (7th edition, The Williams and Wilkins Company, Baltimore, 1961) or in The Actinomycetes (11, SA. Waksman, The Williams and Wilkins Company, Baltimore, 1961), the species which it resembles most is S. aburaviensis which, like it, does not produce melanine on organic media, has a white to light grey aerial mycelium, forms straight sporophores, and has a yellowish brown vegetabive mycelium on sucrosenitrate-agar. However, it is not identical therewith because, if reference is made to the description of S. aburaviensis given in The Actinomycetes" (page 166), it is seen that whilst a certain number of characteristics shown by these two strains are identical, S. aburaviensis gives a greyish-olive growth on glucoseasparagine agar and a.pale olive growth on potatoes, whilst S. albocinerescens DS 21,647 gives a yellow growth on glucose-asparagine agar and a growth on potatoes which ranges in colour from weak brownishyellow-grey to very light brownish. It should furthermore be noted that it has not been possible to observe any greenish or olive colouration of the vegetative mycelium of S. albocinerescens DS 21,647; the vegetative mycelium has always shown colours in shades ranging from light yellow or brown-yellow to yellow-brown. Furthermore, S. aburaviensis does not produce a soluble pigment on gelatin whilst S. albocinerescens DS 21,647 produces a light yellow soluble pigment. Moreover, S. aburaviensis does not utilise lactose or sucrose and does utilise inulin whilst S. albocinerescens DS 21,647 utilises lactose and sucrose and does not utilise inulin.

Table V which follows indicates the cultural characteristics and biochemical properties of S. albocinerescens DS 21,647 observed under the same conditions as those of the strain S. hygroscopicus DS 9,751. The media used are the same and carry the same references.

(ReH) TABLE V Culture Degree of Vegetative mycelium or Aerial structure (comprising Soluble Observations, and biochemical properties Medium development underside of culture the combination of the aerial pigment mycelium and the sporulation) Bennett good Thick and wrinkled, Whitish. Poorly developed a Very light agar yellow yellow-brown (RelA) Emerson good Well developed, Yellow whitish; traces. light agar to light brown-yellow. yellow-brown (Ref.B)

V Hickey good Verywe ll developed. Greyish-white. Very poorly Yellow-brown Long straight or sightly flexuous and Greyish yellow-brown. developed. sporophores. Tresncr Undersidc agar yellow-brown. (Ref.C) v

Pridham good Thick and wrinkled, Whitish. Very moderately yellow-brown yeast yellow. developed. extract agar (Ref.D)

Pridham good Thick and wrinkled, whitish; traces. Yellow-brown oat and yellow-brown. tomato agar (ReHi) Carvajal good Thick and wrinkled, Gicyish-white. l o or l y V v'iibwinifiin' V oat agar yellow to yellow-brown. developed. (Ref.F)

Glucose good 7 Thick and wrinkled, whitish; traces. Brownyellow peptone brown-yellow. agar (W-7) Nutrient moderate Light yellowish. nil nil agar (W-S) Tyrosine medium Brownish yellow Greyishwhite. Very poorly Yellow-brown Partial solubilisation of the tyrosine. agar developed (Refli) Tyrosine medium Undersidc Light g reyish. Poorly Orange-brown Formation of melamine: negative (readings yeast orange-brown developed. no blackening taken in accordance with the extract of the medium recommendations of the author). agar [Melanine formation medium" of Waksman] (RcfH) Krainsky moderate (i re yish yellow. Nil or whitish; traces. Weak greyish Good solubilisation of the malate. calcium yellow malate agar TABLE v Continued Culture Degree of Vegetative mycelium or Aerial structure (comprising Soluble Observations, and biochemical properties Medium development underside of culture the combination of the aerial pigment mycelium and the sporulation) 0valbu very poor Poorly developed. nil Nil min agar Weak yellowish grey. Y

Glucosefairly good eT w. m W iimsh. Fairly well i Light g reyish A asparadeveloped. yellow glne agar G lyce medium Y ello w. Whitish; traces Light yellow rineasparagine agar Starchmoderate brown-yellow. Nil or greyish-white; traces. Light Hydrolysis of the starch: positive.

nitrate yellow-brown agar (W-IO) Pridham good Yellow to light Very light greyish. Very Weak Hydrolysis of the starch: positive.

starch brown-yellow. moderately developed. brownish Sporophores long, straight or slightly agar Underside yellow. yellow flexuous.

(RefJ) Czapek good Brown-yellow. Well whitish. Very moderately Yellowbrown synthetic developed; having a developed.

agar with tendency to split.

sucrose Czapek good Browmyellow. Well Greyish-whitc. Very poorly Yellow-brown synthetic developed; having a developed.

agar with tendency to split.

glucose (RefK) Czapek good I Brown-yellow. Well Nil or whitish; traces. Yellow-brown synthetic developed; having a agar with tendency to split.

glycerinc (Ref.L)

Culturc good Very well developed, nil Nil or very on potato thickand wrinkled, weak greyish (W-27) Brownyellow to brown yellow-brown.

l2% Pure moderate Whitish flocculent nil Light yellow. Liquefaction of the gelatinc: fairly rapid.

gelatine culture penetrating into Slowly (RefM) the gelatine. produced.

Dimmick moderate Small greyish-whitc to nil Nil Nitrite reaction: positive glucose light yellowish-grey nitrate colonies on the surface.

broth (Ref.N)

Czapek medium Ycllowish vclum nil Pale yellow Nitrite reaction: positive broth with sucrose (Zapek No development utilisation of the cellulose: negative broth with cellulose Skimmed good light greyish yellow nil leptonisation without coagulation startlng milk ring. after 2 weeks, complete in l month. pH

( H) changing from 6.3 to 7.0 in 1 month.

b) 37C. Very moderate Some light nil Coagulation followed by peptonisation. No

brown-yellow colonies appreciable change in pH in 1 month. on the surface.

'l'resner good Light yellow-brown. nil Weak Production of H 5: negative.

and brown-yellow Danga agar for investigating the production of (RefOi The characteristics shown by the third microorganon media where it is described for the type species. It

ism producing the antibiotic 18,631 RP connect it to 65 is because of this property that this new strain has been the species Streptomyces roseochromogenes (Jensen) named Streptomyces roseochromogenes, var. oscitans.

Waksman: and Henrici, from which it only shows very S. roseochromogenes, var. oscitans, strain DS 12,976 slight differences, the main one being a retardation of forms oval spores measuring 0.3 to 0.4 p./0.6 to 0.8 the formation of the sporulation which only appears lts sporiferous filaments are elongated and wind at their particularly slowly and sometimes does not even form ends, forming one or two spirals, rarely more; they are generally separately inserted on the aerial mycelium filaments which carry them.

Generally, S. roseochromogenes, var. oscitans, strain DS 12,976 develops a yellow vegetative mycelium on such as Pridham starch agar or (iruhdy starch agar, and

under the usual culture conditions it requires about two.

months incubation at 26 C to see the serial mycelium assume a greyish pink shade on these media, indicating developed.

(w-lO) synthetic nutrient media and produces soluble ptg- 5 an appreciable degree of sporulation.

of a l w to l'ght Yellowlsh on orgamc Table V] which follows indicates the cultural characnument vegetatwe mxcehum darker and teristics and biochemical properties of S. roseochromoassumes Colours 9 from l' w' f 9 genes, var. oscitans DS 12,976 observed under the same deep brown even h blacklsh brown m certain 10 conditions as those of the strain S. hygroscopicus DS ases on the m med'a It produces more or less 9751: the media used are generally the same and carry l' S1l1b1eP1gmem and profluces a "l f the same references. The references or compositions of pigment on an appropriate medium contanlnng tyosmek. the other culture media are as follows:

The colour of its sporulated aerial myce ium is pin Y but, as has already been stated, the sporulation only Ref'R z g f g i wlth 30 of forms extremely slowly, only starting after more than 15 sucrose rep ace y 0 g ucose one month s culture; the media which have allowed the Ref.S Manual of Methods for Pure Culture Study sporulation to be achieved under optimum conditions of Bacteria of the Society of American Bacteriolare media based on starch and on an ammonium salt ogists, Geneva, N.Y., II 18.

TABLE VI Culture Degree of Vegetative mycelium or Aerial structure (comprising Soluble Observations, and bio-chemical properties medium development underside of culture the combination of the aerial pigment I mycelium and the sporulation) Hickey good Undersiclc deep Whitish. Fairly well Black-brown Oval spores, measuring 0.3 to 0.4/0.6 to 0.8 and chestnut to developed. Very slowly a. Long sporiferous filaments, ending in l or Tresncr black-brown. assumes a light greyish pink 2 spirals.

agar colouration when the (Ref.C) sporulation forms.

Bennett good Light yellow-brown White. Moderately developed. Yellow-brown agar (RefA) Pridham fairly good Underside Whitish to yellowish-white. Deep yeast yellow-brown. Moderately developed. orange-brown.

extract agar (RefD) Pridham good Brownish yellow-grey. whitish; traces Weak oat and Thick and wrinkled, yellow-brown tomato very well developed.

agar

(Ref.E)

Glucosegood Greenish yellow-brown whitish; slight traces. Orangebrown peptone to orange-brown. Very to greenish agar well developed. brown Nutrient moderate Greyish yellow-brown. nil Deep agar yellow-brown Tyrosinemoderate Brownish-black whitish. Very moderately Greyish black. Formation of melaninc: positive yeast developed. Produced extract from the agar for second day of the culture formation I mclanine (RefH) Krainsky Almost nil Colourless; traces nil Nil No solubilisation of the calcium malate. calcium malate agar Ovalbu- Very moderate Vivid yellow nil Pale yellow min agar Glueose- Fairly good Yellow nil Yellow asparagine agar Glyce- Fairly good Orange-yellow to Nil or whitish; slight traces Light rinereddish orange. orange-yellow asparagine agar Pridham Moderate Yellow to brownish whitish. Moderately I Brownish, low Oval spores measuring 0.3 to 0.4/0.6 to starch-inyellow. developed. Very slowly intensity ().8p.. Long sporiferous filaments, ending in organic assumes a light grcyish pink l or 2 spirals. (loud hydrolysis of the starch. salts agar coloration when the (RelJ) sporulation forms.

(irundy Moderate Yellowish. White. Moderately developed. Nil

starch Very slowly assumes a light agar greyish pink coloration when (Ref.l) the sporulation forms.

Starch- Moderate Colourlcss to yellowish nil Nil or very Hydrolysis of the starch slight and slow. nitrate Very moderately weak agar yellowish Soluble Observations. and bio-chemical properties Culture Degree of Vegetative mycelium or Aerial structure (comprising medium development underside of culture the combination of the aerial pigment mycelium and the sporulation) Czapek good Light brownish yellow. nil Weak greyish synthetic yellow-brown agar with sucrose Czapek good Yellow nil Weak synthetic brown-yellow agar with glucose (Ref.K) C'Lapek good Light brownish greyt nil Grcyish synthetic yellow-brown agar with glycerine (Ref.l.) Starch- Moderate Yellowish velum nil Very pale Reduction of nitrates to nitrites: positive. nitrate yellow, fairly broth slow (W-l9) Czapek Moderate Yellowish flocculcnt nil Nil Reduction of nitrates to nitrites: positive. broth culture with glucose (Rcf.R) Czapek No development Utilisation of broth the cellulose: with negative. cellulose (Ref.O) Nutrient Moderate Yellowish ring nil Brownish Reduction of nitrates to nitrites: negative.

broth containing nitrates (Ref.S) Culture good Blackish brown. Thick whitish; traces Brownish on potato and wrinkled, very well black. (W27) developed. Abundant, 12% Pure Medium Brownish grey nil Blackish Liquefaction of the gelatine: positive but gclatinc, brown. slow, only starting after 1 month's culture. R LM Abundant. lresner good. Black nil Black. Production of H,: strongly positive. and Abundant. Produced at agar the very start (R f Q) of the culture Skimmcd good Brownish ring nil Peptonisation without coagulation. pH milk changing from 6.2 to 7.0-7.2 in 1 month, (Ref.P) a) C. b) 37C. Moderate Yellow-brown ring nil Peptonisation without coagulation. pH

It emerges from examining the characteristics shown by the strain streptomyces DS 12,976 that it very closely approaches the species S. roseochromogenes (Jensen) Waksman and Henrici, the description of unchanged in l month.

-ble pigment on potato, a deep brown soluble pigment on gelatin which it liquefies slowly but indubitably, it peptonises milk without coagulating it, hydrolyses starch, produces H 5 and reduces nitrates, this lastwhich is given in The Actinomycetes, vol. 2, p. 268 mentioned characteristic however only being positive (S.A. Vaksman The Williams andWilkins Company, 1961). In comparison with all the species described in this work, it is this species with which it shows the greatest similarity and there is such a large measure of on synthetic media.

The differences detected between the two strains are slight. On the one hand, S. roseochromogenes (Jensen) Waksman and Henrici sometimes forms sporiferous filcommon points between these two strains and Such aments grouped in sets of three or five on one and the slight difierences that they cannot be considered as two different species.

A Like S. roseochromogenes (Jensen) Waksman and Henrici, the strain of streptomyces DS 12976 belongs to the group of strains forming melamine pigments; its aerial mycelium takes a pink colouration when it reaches an appreciable degree of sporulation and its sporophores have spiral. ends. Its vegetative mycelium shows colours ranging from pale yellow to deep brown according to the media in which it develops, and the soluble pigments it elaborates, which are light yellow or absent on synthetic media, become deep brown or even blackish brown on organic media. It forms a black solusame base filament, thus producing the appearance of brooms or vertieilla; the sporiferous filaments of the strain of Streptomyces DS 12,976 are usually inserted separately, though the combination of two sporiferous filaments on one and the same base filament is sometimes encountered. On the other hand, S. roseochromogenes (Jensen) Waksman and Henrici produces a colourless to pale yellow vegetative mycelium on Czapek synthetic sucrose agar, a greyish yellow vegetative mycelium on nutrient agar which thereafter becomes brownish red, and forms a pink aerial mycelium on Czapek synthetic sucrose agar, on glucose-asparagine agar and on nutrient agar; the strain of Streptomyces DS 12,976 produces a vegetative mycelium on Czapek synthetic sucrose agar which is more vigorously developed and rapidly shows a brownish yellowcolouration; on nutrient agar its vegetative mycelium remains greyish yellow-brown without thereafter changing to chromogenes (Jensen) Waksman and Henrici and this is the reason why it must be considered as a special variety of this species and named Streptomyces roseochromogenes, var. oscitans, strain DS 12,976.

brown-red and above all it does not form an aerial my- 5 The capacity of Streptomyces hygroscopicus DS celium on synthetic Czapek sucrose agar, on aspara- 9.751, Streptomyces albocinerescens DS 21,647 and gine agar or on nutrient agar. This latter fact is attrib- Streptomyces roseochromogenes, var. oscitans to utilise uted to the particular slowness which it generally shows various sources of carbon and nitrogen to ensure their at the beginning in producing an aerial mycelium on all development was determined according to the princiits culture media, and thereafter in developing its sporl0 ple of the method of Pridham and Gottlieb [.l. of Bact. ulation on the aerial mycelium once this has developed. 56, 107-1 14, (1948)]. The degree of development was This difference can however not be considered as a criobserved after a suitable incubation time at 26 C on terion for differentiating a species because, when the the base medium indicated by the authors, replacing sporulated aerial mycelium is observed on media and either the glucose by the various sources of carbon reunder conditions where it can be obtained, it shows the 15 Spectively tested, or replacing(N 4)2 4' y the Vafi pink shade of that of S, ros ochmmo Ho ous sources of nitrogen which were respectively tested. this is the most important feature by which the strain e results are respectively shown in Tables VII and producing 18,631 RP is distinguished from S. roseo- TZBLE VII Sources of Carbon tested Utilisation by Shygroscopicux DS 9,751

S.alb0cinerescen.r DS 21,647

S .roseoch ram ogener var, oscitans positive but slow D-Ribose positive negative D-Xylose positive negative positive L-Arabinose positive positive positive L-Rharnose positive negative negative D-Glucose positive positive positive DGalactose positive positive positive D-Fruetose positive negative positive D-Mannose positive negative positive L-Sorbose negative negative negative Lactose positive positive positive Maltese positive positive positive Sucrose positive positive positive butslow Trehalose positive negative positive Cellobiose positive positive positive Raffinose positive negative positive Dextrin positive positive positive lnulin negative negative positive Starch positive positive positive Glycogen positive positive positive Glycerin positive positive positive Erythritol positive negative negative Adonitol positive negative negative Dulcitol negative negative negative D-Mannitol positive negative positive D-Sorbitol slight and slow negative negative lnositol positive negative positive TABLE VIII Sources Utilisation by of nitrogen tested sihygroscopicus DS 975l S.albocinere.rcens DS 21,647

S.rnseochromogenes var. oscitans DL-Methionine negative positive positive positive positive negative negative positive positive positive positive positive positive positive positive positive positive positive positive negative negative negative TABLE I" :QQ Q BM Sources of nitrogen tested Utilisation by Shygrosmpicu: DS 9751 S.nlbcineresreri.r DS 21 ,647

S.r0.re0chmm0genes var. oscitans L-Tryptophanc According to a feature of the invention, the antibiotic 18,631 R1. is produced by aerobically cultivating Streptomyces hydroscopicus DS 9,751 (NRRL 3418), Streptomyces albocinerescens DS 21 ,647 (NRRL 3419) or S treptomyces roseochromogenes, var. oscitans DS 12,976 (NRRL 35Q4), or a 18,631 RE producing mu; tant thereof, using an aqueous nutrient medium containing assimilable sources of carbon, nitrogen and in- 25 organic substances, and separating the antibiotic 18,631 R.P. formed during the culture.

The culture of one or other of these strains of streptomyces can be carried out by any of the known aerobic surface or submerged culture methods, the latter being preferred because they are more convenient. Conventional types of apparatus currently used in the fermentation industry may be employed. In particular, the following sequence of operations may be adopted:

Streptomyces hygroecopicus DB 9,751 Streptomyces albocincrescens DS 21,647 stock or Streptomyces roseochromogenes, var. oscltans culture on agar culture in an agitated flask inoculum culture in a Iermenter production culture in a fermenter The fermentation medium must contain an assimilable source of carbon and an assimilable source of nitrogen and inorganic substances (particularly chlorides) negative negative negative positive positive positive positive negative negative positive positive positve positive positive animal or vegetable oils such as lard oil, soya bean oil or cottonseed oil may be advantageously used instead of, or in admixturewith carbon-, hydrogen-, and oxygen-containing substances.

The suitable sources of assimilable nitrogen are extremely varied. They may be very simple chemical compounds such as nitrates, inorganic and organic am monium salts, urea or amino acids. They may also be complex substances containing principally nitrogen in protein form, e.g., casein, lactalbumin, gluten and their hydrolysates, soya bean meal, peanut meal, fish meal, meat extract, yeast extract, distillers solubles or corn steep liquor.

Amongst the inorganic substances added, some may have a buffering or neutralising effect, such as the alkali metal or alkaline earth metal phosphates, or the carbonates of calcium or magnesium. Others contribute to the ionic equilibrium needed for the development of the Streptomyces and for the production of the antibiotic; examples of these are the chlorides and sulphates of the alkali metals and alkaline earth metals. Finally, some of them act more especially as activators of the metabolism of the Streptomyces: to these belong the salts of zinc, cobalt, iron, copper and manganese.

The pH of the fermentation medium at the start of the culture should be between 6.0 and 7.8, and preferably between 6.5 and 7.5. The optimum fermentation temperature is 2528 C., but satisfactory production is achieved at temperatures of from 23 to 35 C. The rate of aeration of the fermentation broth can vary within quite wide limits, but it has been found that an aeration rate-of 0.3 to 2 litres of air per litre of broth per minute is particularly suitable. The maximum yield of antibiotic is obtained after 4 to 7 days culture, but this period depends predominantly on the medium used.

From the foregoing it will be realised that the general conditions for the culture of S. hygroscopicus DS 9,751, S. albocinerescens DS 21,647 and S. roseochromogenes, var. oscitans DS 12,976 for the production of the antibiotic 18,631 R.P. may be widely varied and adapted as appropriate to the circumstances.

18,631 R.P. can be isolated from the fermentation broths by various methods. The fermentation broth can be filtered at a pH greater than or equal to 7 but, under these conditions, a large part of the antibiotic remains in the filtration cake, which must also be treated in order to extract the active product. When the antibiotic is present in the filtrate of the culture broths, this solution is extracted with a water-immiscible solvent such as an aliphatic alcohol having four or five carbon atoms or a chlorinated hydrocarbon, for example chloroform or methylene chloride, or an ester, in particular ethyl acetate.

However, it is preferable to extract the entire fermentation broth with one of these solvents. Under these conditions the extraction can be carried out at a pH of between 2 and 7. The crude antibiotic is obtained by concentration of the extract under reduced pressure and then precipitation with a poor solvent such as diethyl ether or hexane.

Another method for separating the antibiotic consists in carrying out the filtration of the fermentation broth at a pH below 6 and preferably about under these conditions all the antibiotic remains in the filtration cake from which it can be extracted with water containing a low molecular weight alcohol such as methanol, ethanol or propanol. The alcohol is thereafter removed by evaporation under reduced pressure and the antibiotic is extracted with a water-immiscible solvent, for example, one of those mentioned above.

The antibiotic is generally present in solution in the final concentrate in the form of an acid. The precipitation of crude 18,631 RF. is then improved by the addition of sodium methoxide to the concentrate.

Crude 18,631 RF. in acid form or sodium salt can be purified in a first stage by fixing it on an ion exchange resin of strongly anionic character and high porosity, for example Dowex l X 2 resin in chloride form, from which it is eluted with an aqueous alcoholic mixture containing an electrolyte, preferably a mixture of methanol and water (8020 by volume)-containing 30 g./l. of ammonium chloride. After removing the methanol under reduced pressure, the antibiotic is extracted from the eluates by means of a water-immiscible solvent, preferably chloroform or ethyl acetate. 18,631 R.P. is then obtained in a solid form by precipitation by means of a poor solvent, for example hexane or carbon tetachloride, or by lyophilisation after transfer into t.- butanol.

The second purification stage can be-carried out by chromatography on an alumina column, fixing the antibiotic from a solution in a solvent of low polarity, for example, ethyl acetate, and theneluting it with a polar solvent in which it is more soluble, for example methanol.

The final purification can be carried out by various techniques such as counter-current distribution or crystallization.

The counter-current distribution purification can be carried out, for example, with the system carbon tetrachloride-chloroform-methanol-water (10-3-10-2 by volume) (partition coefficient K 0.65).

Crystallization can .be carried out either by concentration ofa solution of 18,631 RF. in a solvent such as chloroform or ethyl acetate or by adding a poor solvent to a solution of 18,631 R.P.; the following pairs are given as illustrationsz' chloroform-carbon tetrachloride, acetone-water, acetone-acetonitrile, and dioxan-water.

The following Examples illustrate the invention. In the following the activity is always determined by biological determination by the diffusion method, using ganis m, and with reference to a sample of pure 18,631 R.P. taken as a standard at 1,000 ag/mg. This activity is expressed in pg per cc. for solutions and in pg per mg. for solid products.

EXAMPLE 1 A -litre fermenter is charged with corn-steep (50 percent solids content) 800 g.

sucrose l,200 g.

calcium carbonate -300 g.

ammonium sulphate g.

tap water, sufficient to make up to -35 litres The-pH is then 6.10. The medium is sterilised by bubbling steam at 122C. through it for 40 minutes. After cooling, its volume is 40 litres and its pH 7.10. The medium is then inoculated with a culture (200 cc.) of Streptomyces hygroscopicus DS 9,751 in a stirred Erlenmeyer flask. The culture is developed at 27 C. for 48 hours with agitation and aeration with sterile air; it is then suitable for inoculation of the production culture.

aqueous solution (1 litre) containing ammonium sulphate (30 g.). The resulting pH is 7.0.

Inoculation is then carried out with the inoculum culture (1 litre) in the 75-l itre fermenter described above. The production culture is carried out at 27 C. for 161 hours with agitation, using a motor rotating at 240 rpm, and aeration with a volume of sterile air of 1 m /hour. The pH of the broth is then 8.0 and its volume 10.5 litres. The amount of antibiotic present is 9 pig/cc.

EXAMPLE 2 A l70-litre fermenter is charged with pepton (Cl' 3.5 percent) -l,200 g.

meat extract (Cl' 1 percent) -600 g.

corn starch -l,200 g.

water, sufficient to make up to l 10 litres The pH is adjusted to 7.0 with ION sodium hydroxide solution cc.). The medium is sterilized by bubbling steam at 122C, through-it for 40 minutes. After cooling, its volume is litres and its pH 7.0. The medium is then inoculated with a culture 1 (200 cc.) of Streptoriiyces albocinerescens DS 21,647 in a stirred Erlenmeyer flask. The culture is developed at 30 C. for 22 hours with agitation and seration with sterile air; it is thensuitable for inoculating the production culture.

The production culture is carried out in a 800-litre fermenter charged with the following substances:

distillers solubles l6 kg.

partially hydrolysed starch 4 kg. hydrated cobalt chloride (6 H 0) 8 g.

water, sufficient to make up to -330 litres After having adjusted the pH to 7.80 with ION sodium hydroxide solution (1,400 cc.), calcium carbonate (2 kg.) is added, and the medium is then sterilized at 122 C. for40 minutes. After cooling, its volume,

which is 355 litres, is made up to 400 litres by adding a sterile aqueous solution (40 litres) containing cerelose (10 kg.) and a sterile aqueous solution litres) containing ammonium sulphate (800 g.). The resulting pH is 6.90.

The mixture is then inoculated with the inoculum culture (40 litres) in the l70-litre fermenter described I above. The production culture is carried out at 30 C.

for 71 hours with agitation, using a motor rotating at 260 rpm, and aeration with a volume of sterile air of 25 m hour. The pH of 'the broth is then 7.7 and its volume'410 litres. The amount of antibiotic present is 5 ag/cc.

EXAMPLE 3 The n t thQ??? litre Obta t ue the conditions of Example 2 and of 5 ,ug/cc. strength, is introduced into a vat provided with a stirrer. The pH of the broth is adjusted to 5 by means of 5N hydrochloric acid (12.6 litres). After half an hours agitation, a filtration aid (50 kg.) is'added and the suspension is filtered on a filter press. The filtration cake is washed with water (200 litres) and the filtrate (960 litres) is discarded. The filtration cake (196 kg.) is suspended, with agitation, in a water-methanol mixture (500 litres) containing 400 litres of methanol. The apparent pH of the mixture is then adjusted to 7 by adding ION sodium hydroxide solution. Stirring is continued for half an hour and the broth is then filtered on a filter press. The filtrate is collected and the cake is washed with a mixture (150 litres) of water and methanol containing 60 percent (by volumc) of methanol. The combined filtrate and washings represent 675 litres of strength 5.7 ug/cc. The cake is discarded. The alcoholic filtrate is concentrated under reduced pressure (35 mm. Hg.) at 35C. to a volume of 80 litres. The concentrate is introduced into a vat provided with a stirrer. n-Butanol (40 litres) is' added and the pH of the aqueous phase is adjusted to 3 by means of 5N hydrochloric acid. Stirring is Continued for 30 minutes and the upper phase, separated after decantation, is collected. Extraction with n-butanol (40 litres) is repeated. The spent mother liquors are discarded. The two extracts are combined (102 litres) and washed with water litres). The wash liquid is discarded. The washed butanol extract is concentrated under reduced pressure mm. Hg.) and at 37 C. to a volume of 3 litres.

The concentrate is neutralized to pH 7 a percent (by volume) solution of sodium methoxide in nbutanol. The antibiotic in the neutralized concentrate is precipitated by means of hexane litres). The antibiotic is isolated by filtration, washed with hexane and dried in a vacuum oven (5 mm. Hg., C.). Crude 18,631 R.P. (379 g.) of8.5 ug/rng. strength is thus obtained.

EXAMPLE 4 v The broth litwslfrszntbs t rms uat ttd scribed in Example 1 is introduced into a vat provided with a stirrer. n-Butanol 10.5 litres) and a filtration aid (500 g.) are added. The suspension is agitated for half an hour and filtered. The filtration cake is successively washed with n-butanol (1 litre) and water (1 litre). The filtrate is decanted. The lower aqueous phase is separated and discarded. The organic phase (11 litres) is collected and then concentrated under reduced pressure (40 mm. Hg.) at 30 C. to a volume of 200 cc.

The antibiotic present in the concentrate is precipitated by means of hexane (2 litres). The antibiotic is isolated by filtration, washed with hexane and dried in a vacuum oven (40 mm.Hg., 35 C.). Crude antibiotic (14 g.) of 3 ,ug/mg. strength is thus obtained.

Chromatography of the crude product on Arches 302 paper impregnated with a phosphate M/3 buffer solution at pH 7, using chloroform as the development solvent, produces the same displacement as with the crude product isolated from cultures of S. albocinerescens DS 21,647 in Example 3 (Rf 0.5).

On Arches 302 paper with a mixture of ethyl acetate cyclohexane (l-l) saturated with water as the mobile phase, the same displacement is observed as with the crude product isolated from cultures of S. albocinerescens DS 21,647 in Example 3 (Rf 015).

On a thin layer of Kieselgel G, using a mixture of carbon tetrachloride-ethanol-acetic acid (-6-6) as the development system, the same displacement is obtained as with the crude product isolated from cultures of S. r z l bocinerescens DS 21,647 in Example?) (Rf 0.5).

EXAMPLE 5 The fermentation broth (480 litres), prepared as described in Example 2 but of l ug/cc. strength and at pH 7.1, is introduced into a vat provided with a stirrer. Ethyl acetate (400 litres) is added followed, after half an hours agitation, by a filtration aid (45 kg. The suspension is filtered on a filter press. The filtration cake is successively washed with ethyl acetate (80 litres) and with water litres). The filtrate (1,080 litres) is decanted. The lower aqueous phase is separated (660 litres) and discarded. The organic phase (420 litres) is washed with water (40 litres). The washed extract is concentrated under reduced pressure (60 mm.Hg.) and at 22 C. to a volume of 3 litres.

The antibiotic in the concentrates is precipitated by means of hexane (30 litres). The antibiotic is isolated by filtration, washed with hexane and dried in a vacuum oven (5 mm.Hg., 40 C.). Crude 18,631 R.P. (37 g.) of strength 6 pig/mg. is thus obtained.

" EXAMPLE 6 A crude product (1,478 g.), prepared as indicated in Example? but of 5.8 pl gffng strengthfisdissolved in a methanol-water mixture (SO-50 by volume; 12 litres). The resulting solution (having a pH of 7.0) is introduced into the upper part of a column (internal diameter 15 cm.) containing Dowex l X 2 resin (25 litres) in chloride form, the flow rate of the effluent being adjusted to 3 l/hour. When all the initial solution has passed through, the resin is successively washed, in.a downwards direction, with the following mixtures, the flow rate being adapted to 25 l/hour:

methanol-water (50-50) (v/v) 60 litres methanol-water (60-40) (v/v) containing 10 g/l of NH Cl 80 litres methanol-water (60-40) (v/v) containing 15 g/l of NH.,CI 80 litres 18,631 RF. is then eluted with a mixture of methanol-water (80-20 by volume) containing ammonium chloride (30 g./l) (240 litres at a flow rate of 30 l/hour). The eluate is concentrated under reduced pressure at a temperature below 40 C. to 30 litres and the concentrate (pH 5.2) is extracted with chloroform EXAMPLE 7 v 18,631 R.P. (10 g.), prepared as described Example 6, is dissolvedin ethyl acetate (800 cc.). After cl rification, the solution is passed through a column (internal diameter: 50 mm.) containing alumina (750 g.) which has beforehand been washed with dilute sulphuric acid. The column is thereafter washed with ethyl acetate (5 litres) and the antibiotic is eluted with 1 litre of methanol. The methanol solution is concentrated under reduced pressure to a small volume and the antibiotic in the concentrate is transferred into ethyl acetate, from which it crystallises; crystals (1.16 g.) of 945 C 59.4 percent, H 5.45 percent, O= 25.1 per-- cent, N 4.0 percent, C1 5.1 percent.

EXAMPLE '9 After having adjusted the pH to 7.50 with ION sodium hydroxide solution (1,800 cc.), calcium carbonate (2.5 kg.) is added and the medium is then sterilized at 122 C. for 40 minutes. After cooling, the volume of the broth is 450litres. It is made up to 500 litres by adding a sterile aqueous solution (50 litres) containing cerelose (12.5 kg.) and a sterile aqueous solution (5 litres) containing ammonium sulphate (1 kg.). The pH The mixture is inoculated with the inoculum culture (50 litres) in the l70-litre fermenter described above. The production culture is carried out at 33 C. for l 19 hours with agitation, using a motor rotating at 205 rpm, and aeration with a volume of sterile air of m /hour. The pH of the medium is then 8.60 and the volume of the broth is 470 litres. The amount of antibiotic present is 288 ug/cc.

EXAMPLE 11 I The fermentation broth (990 litres), obtained under the conditions of Exam ple 10 and of 288 ,ug/cc. strength, is introduced into a vat provided with a stirrer. The pH of the broth is adjusted to 5 by means of 5N hydrochloric acid solution (10 litres). After half an hours agitation, a filtration aid (50 kg.) is added and the suspension is filtered on a filter press. The filtration cake is washed with water (200 litres) and the filtrate 1,025 litres) is discarded. The filtration cake 199 kg.)

The antibiotic (0.5 g.), purified as described in Example 7, is dissolved in acetone 20 cc.) ancTr ecrystallised by slow addition of water 10 cc.). Fine white needles (0.445 g.) of 994 ug/mg. strength and having the physico-chemical characteristics of the product obtained in EXampIe S areYhusobtained.

' EXAMPLE 10 A l70-litre fermenter is charged with peptone (Cl' 3.5 percent) l,200 g.

meat extract (Cl 1 percent) 600 g.-

corn starch -1,200 g. j tap water, sufficient to make up to 1 10 litres.

The pH is adjusted to 7.10 with ION sodium hydroxide solution (120 cc.). The medium is sterilised by bubbling steam at 122 C. through it for 40minutes. After cooling the volume of the broth is 120 litres and the pH is 7.10. The broth is inoculated with a culture (200 cc.) of Streptomyces roseochromogenes var. oscitans DS 12,976 in a stirred Erlenmeyer flask. The culture is developed at 30C. for 27 hours with agitation and aeration with sterile air; it is then suitable for inoculating the production culture.

The production culture is carried out in a 800-litre fermenter chargedwith the following substances: distillers solubles 20 kg.

partially hydrolysed starch --5 kg.

cobalt chloride 6 H 0 10 kg.

tap water, sufficient to make up to 405 litres is suspended, with agitation, ina mixture (750 litres) of water and methanol containing 600 litres of methanol. The apparent pH of the mixture is then adjusted to 7 by adding 5N sodium hydroxide solution (1 litre). The

agitation is continued for 1 hour and the broth is then filtered on a'filter press. The filtrate is collected and the cake is washed with a water-methanol mixture (100 litres) containing percent (by volume) of methanol. The combined filtrate and washings represent 840 litres of 285 ug/cc. strength. The cake is discarded. The alcoholic filtrate is concentrated under reduced pressure (35 mm.Hg.) at 35 C., to a volume of 100 litres. The concentrate is introduced into a vat provided with a stirrer. n-Butanol (50 litres) is added and the pH of the aqueous phase is adjusted to 3 by means of a 5N hydrochloric acid solution. Stirring is continued for 30 minutes and the upper phase, separated after decantation, is collected. The extraction is repeated with n-butanol (30 litres). The spent mother liquors are discarded. The two extracts are combined (98 litres) and washed with water (10 litres). The wash liquid is discarded. The washed butanol extract is concentrated under reduced pressure (20 mm.Hg.) and at 37C. to a volume of 3 litres.

'The concentrate is neutralised to pH 7 by adding a 25 percent (by volume) solution of sodium methoxide in n-butanol. The antibiotic in the neutralised concentrate is precipitated by means'of hexane (30 litres). The

' crude antibiotic, in the form of its sodium salt, is isolated by filtration, washed with hexane and dried in an oven under reduced pressure (5 mm.Hg., ,at 40 C.). Crude 18,631 R.P. (477 g.) of 435 ug/mg. strength is thus obtained.

in Example 1 1 and of '332 ,ug/mg. strength, is dissolved in a mixture of methanol-water (50-50 by volume; 30

'litres). The resulting solution is introduced into the upper part ofa column (internal diameter 12 cm.) containing Dowex 1 X 2 resin (30 litres) in chloride form, the flow rate of the effluent being adjusted to 3 litres/- hour. When all the initial solution has passed through, the resin is successively washed, in a downward direction, with the following mixtures, the flow rate being adjusted to 25 litres/hour:

methanol-water (5050 v/v) 20 litres methanol-water (60-40 v/v) containing g/l of ammonium chloride -12O litres methanol-water (70-30 v/v) containing 15 g/l of ammonium chloride -60 litres The antibiotic is then eluted by means of a mixture of methanol-water (8020 by volume) containing 30 g/l of ammonium chloride (120 litres in six fractions of litres).

Fractions 2, 3 and 4, containing the greater part of the activity, are recombined and concentrated to litres under reduced pressure at a temperature below 40 C. The concentrate is extracted with ethyl acetate (once with 15 litres and twice with 7.5 litres) without modifying the pH. The extracts are combined,'washed with water (5 litres), dried over sodium sulphate and concentrated to 10 litres under reduced pressure at a temperature below 40 C.

The solution thus obtained is percolated through a column (internal diameter 5 cm.) containing alumina (500 g.) which has beforehand been washed at pH 4. When the entire solution has passed through, development is carried out with ethyl acetate (2 litres). The effluents and the washings are combined and concentrated under reduced pressure to one-tenth of their volume, thereby causing crystallisation. After 2 hours maturing in an ice bath, the crystals are filtered off, washed with cold ethyl acetate (200 cc.) and dried for 24 hours at 40 C. under a reduced pressure of less than 5 mm.Hg. Crystalline 18,631 RR (170 g. is thus obtained in the form of the free acid of 855 ug/mg.

strength.

Fractions 5 to 60f the chromatography on Dowex 1 X 2 in the same manner yield a crystalline product g.) in the form of the free acid of strength 702 ug/mg. (Furthermore, a product for recycling (124 g.) of 250 ug/mg. strength can be recovered by concentrating the crystallisation mother liquors and precipitation with hexane).

. EXAMPLE 3! The antibiotic (276 g.), prepared as described in Example 12, is dissolved at 30 C. in a mixture of acetone-dioxan (5-1 by volume; 2.4 litres) Th e solution is clarified and water (2.5 litres) is then added over the course of 3 hours at ambient temperature and with slow stirring. After standing overnight at ambient temperature, the crystals are filtered off, washed with water (1 litre) and dried for 48 hours at 60 C. under a pressure of 1 mm.Hg.

18,631 R.P. (231 g.) is thus obtained in the form of the free acid as white crystals of 990 ug/mg. strength, having the following physico-chemical properties: Elementary analysis:

C 60.0-60.3 percent, H 5.4-5.5 percent, 0

24.925.0 percent, N 3.9-4.1 percent,

C1 4.75-4.95 percent.

Calculated for C H O,,N Cl:

C 60.29 percent, H 5.35 percent, 0 25.24 percent, N 4.02 percent, Cl 5.09 percent. Optical rotation:

[01],, -67 i l.5, [011 ==l96 i 2.5 (c 1,

ethanol) Ultra-violet spectrum (determined with a 10 mg/l.

chloroform solution):

absorption maximum at 275 nm absorption minimum at 298 nm shoulder at 307 nm absorption maximum at 338 nm EXAMPLE 14 The crystalline antibiotic (164 g.) in the form of the free acid, obtained in Example 12, is dissolved in acetone (500 cc.). The solution is clarified by filtering through a bed of Clarcel DIC, and a mixture of acetonitrile-water (50-50 by volume; 4.5 litres) is then added thereto over the course of 1 hour 30 minutes with slow stirring. After standing overnight at ambient temperature, the resulting crystals arefiltered off, washed with acetone-water mixture (50-50 by volume; 1 litre) and then with water (1 litre) and dried for 48 hours at 50 C. under less than 5 mm.Hg. 18,631 R.P. (124 g.) is thus obtained in the form of the free acid as white crystals of 1,000 ug/mg. strength, having the physicochemical properties of the product obtained in Example 8.

The present invention also includes within its scope pharmaceutical compositions comprising 18,631 R.P., or a non-toxic salt thereof (preferably an alkali metal salt), in association with a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier and for a compound, which may itself be physiologically active, for example an antibiotic. Such compositions may be administered parenterally, rectally or preferably orally. in the last mentioned case 18.631 R.P. can be combined with a penicillin which is not destroyed by gastric acidity, such as penicillin V.

The production of active ingredient in these pharmaceutical compositions will vary according to the desired therapeutic effect and method of adminstration. For the treatment of infections by Gram-positive microorganisms in a human adult, the dose is generally between 1 and 3 g. per day administered orally or rectally and between 0.2 and 2 g. per day administered parenterally.

Solid compositions for oral administration include tablets, pills, powders and granules. In such solid compositions the active compound is mixed with at least one inert diluent such as sucrose, lactose or starch. The compositions may also contain, as is normal practice, additional substances other than inert diluents, e.g., a lubricant such as magnesium stearate. Liquid compositions for oral administration include pharmaceutically acceptable emulsions, solutions, suspensions, syrups, and elixirs containing inert diluents commonly used in the art such as water and liquid paraffin. These liquid compositions may also comprise adjuvants, such as wetting and suspending agents, and sweetening and flavouring substances.

The compositions according to the invention for parenteral adminstration may be sterile aqueous or nonaqueous solutions, suspensions or emulsions. As the solvent or vehicle, propylene glycol, a polyethylene glycol, vegetables oils, in particular olive oil, and injectable organic esters, for example, ethyl oleate, may be used. These compositions may also contain adjuvants, in particular wetting, emulsifying and dispersing agents. The compositions may be sterilised by, for example, filtration through a bacteria-retaining filter, by incorporation in the compositions of sterilisation agents, by irradiation or by heating.- They may also be dissolved in sterile water or some other injectable sterile medium immediately before use.

Compositions for rectal adminstration are suppositories which contain, in addition to the active substance, excipients such as cacao butter or a suppository wax.

The following Example illustrates pharmaceutical compositions according to the invention.

EXAMPLE Tablets are prepared according to the usual technique having the following composition:

starch 0.l50 g.

colloidal silica 0.070 g.

magnesium stearate 0.030 g.

We claim: 1. Process for the production of the antibiotic 18,631 R.P. which comprises aerobically cultivating Streptomyces hygroscopicus DS 9,751 (NRRL 3,418), Streptomyces albocinerescens DS 21,647 (NRRL 3419) or Streptomyces roseochromogenes, var. oscitans DS 12,976 (NRRL 3504), or a 18,631 R.P.-producing mutant thereof, using an aqueous nutrient medium containing assimilable sources of carbon, nitrogen and inorganic substances, and separating the 18,631 R.P. formed during the culture.

2. Process according to claim 1 in which 18,631 RF. is separated from the culture medium by filtering the medium at a pH below 6, extracting the antibiotic from the filtration cake with water containing a low molecular weight alcohol, evaporating the alcohol from the aqueous-alcoholic solution of the antiobiotic and extracting the antiobiotic from its aqueous with a solvent which is immiscible with water selected from aliphatic alcohols having four or five carbon atoms, chlorinated hydrocarbons and esters.

3. Process according to claim 1 in which 18,631 R.P. is separated from the culture medium by treating the medium at a pH between 2 to 7 with a solvent for the antibiotic which is immiscible with water selected from aliphatic alcohols having four or five carbon atoms, chlorinated hydrocarbons and esters, and filtering off the resultant organic solution containing the antibiotic.

4. Process according to claim 3 in which the waterimmiscible solvent used in butanol, chloroform, methylene chloride or ethyl acetate.

5. Process according to claim 3 in which 18,631 RF. is separated from its organic solution by concentrating the solution under reduced pressure and precipitating the antibiotic from the concentrate by addition of a poor solvent.

6. Process according to claim 5 in which the poor solvent used to precipitate the antibiotic is hexane.

7. Process according to claim 5 in which sodium methoxide is added to the concentrated solution of the antibiotic prior to treatment with the poor solvent for 18,631 RF.

8. Process according to claim 1 in which the culture is effected under submerged aerobic culture conditions commencing at a pH within the range 6.0 to 7.8 and at a temperature of from 23 to 35 C.

9. Process according to claim 8 in which the pH of the nutrient medium at the beginning of the culture is between 6.5 and 7.5.

10. Process according to claim 8 in which the temperature of the culture is 25- 28 C.

11. Process according to claim 8 in which the culture medium is aerated at a rate of from 0.3 to 2 litres of air per litre of medium per minute.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION Denise MANCY et a1 Inventor(s) It is certified that error appears in the above-identified patent and that said Letters Patent are hereby corrected as shown below:

In the heading, read the surname of the third inventor as Preud'Homme -In the heading, insert the following claim for Convention priority:

- Claims priority, applications France, February 14,

1968, No. 139,878 and July 24, 1968, No. 160,462

Signed and sealed this 6th day of May 1975.

(SEAL) Attest C. MARSHALL DANN RUTH C. MASON Comissioner of Patents Attesting Officer and Trademarks FORM PO-IOSO (10-69) uscouwoc 60316-P69 t 0.5. GWIIIIII'I FIIIITIIG OFFICE I! O-SG-Sll. 

2. Process according to claim 1 in which 18,631 R.P. is separated from the culture medium by filtering the medium at a pH below 6, extracting the antibiotic from the filtration cake with water containing a low molecular weight alcohol, evaporating the alcohol from the aqueous-alcoholic solution of the antiobiotic and extracting the antiobiotic from its aqueous with a solvent which is immiscible with water selected from aliphatic alcohols having four or five carbon atoms, chlorinated hydrocarbons and esters.
 3. Process according to claim 1 in which 18,631 R.P. is separated from the culture medium by treating the medium at a pH between 2 to 7 with a solvent for the antibiotic which is immiscible with water selected from aliphatic alcohols having four or five carbon atoms, chlorinated hydrocarbons and esters, and filtering off the resultant organic solution containing the antibiotic.
 4. Process according to claim 3 in which the water-immiscible solvent used in butanol, chloroform, methylene chloride or ethyl acetate.
 5. Process according to claim 3 in which 18,631 R.P. is separated from its organic solution by concentrating the solution under reduced pressure and precipitating the antibiotic from the concentrate by addition of a poor solvent.
 6. Process according to claim 5 in which the poor solvent used to precipitate the antibiotic is hexane.
 7. Process according to claim 5 in which sodium methoxide is added to the concentrated solution of the antibiotic prior to treatment with the poor solvent for 18,631 R.P.
 8. Process according to claim 1 in which the culture is effected under submerged aerobic culture conditions commencing at a pH within the range 6.0 to 7.8 and at a temperature of from 23* to 35* C.
 9. Process according to claim 8 in which the pH of the nutrient medium at the beginning of the culture is between 6.5 and 7.5.
 10. Process according to claim 8 in which the temperature of the culture is 25*- 28* C.
 11. Process according to claim 8 in which the culture medium is aerated at a rate of from 0.3 to 2 litres of air per litre of medium per minute. 